I recently wrapped up a way-too-long-running freelance project, which means I’ve been able to turn my attention back to things of more personal interest. They are many, because apparently I don’t know how to sit still.

In no particular order:

• My Rails Testing with RSpec book, as mentioned briefly in Everyday Rails (my blog on practical problem solving in Ruby on Rails, for those not in the know). I’m using Leanpub to self-publish it—and, in the spirit of the Lean Startup, you’ll be able to purchase my minimum viable product for a cool nine bucks starting very, very soon. I just need to settle on a cover and press the publish button. A few of the chapters come from the RSpec series I did in Everyday Rails, so you can get a taste ahead of time.
• A second book, but I’m not ready to spill the beans on it yet other than to say I’m working on it with fellow Stratepedian Amber Nutt and it will be for a more general audience than the RSpec book is.
• A cool Lawrence history project of sorts that I’ve been looking forward to actually starting since the beginning of the year, along with a couple of other guys in town. Part of me is disappointed I haven’t gotten it started sooner, but another part is glad that I’ve had a few months to reflect on it and change my thinking a bit. I’m even thinking that it—gasp—might not be in Ruby.
• Resident photographer and web person for a Kansas travel blog I started with my wife, called Kansas Road Trips . We just took a trip through the southeastern corner of the state last weekend, if you’re interested in seeing and reading.